As an author, you go into the school, it gets written about in the paper. It sucks that your book was banned,… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
The second book, which was probably more from a professional standpoint - when I read Junot Díaz's Drown, I was like, Oh… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
Once I got into college, I discovered literature - in particular, multicultural literature. I just started to understand the power of story… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
When I finish a book, I'll go to that file and look through them. And I'll say, these are three that really… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
When I'm following what a character does in a book I don't have to think about my own life. Where I am.… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
All that matters to me as a reader are characters. I want characters to be real, authentic, and rounded. I will be… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
I feel like I have a lot of novel ideas, but they often come up while I'm already in the process of… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
I always thought books were just the canon, things I couldn't identify with. And then I was introduced to really amazing multicultural… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
But when you read books you almost feel like you're out there in the world. Like you're going on this adventure right… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
Even though I was a reluctant reader in junior high and high school, I found myself writing poems in the back of… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
I'm ashamed to admit this, but I didn't read a novel all the way through until after high school. Blasphemy, I know.… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
Cormac McCarthy is my favorite author in the world. I love him so much. There's one book that informs me more than… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
The Color Purple really floored me. That book was just incredible because I loved the language. The biggest deal of that book… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
A surprising number of teens I meet in rougher schools around the country find refuge in novels and creative writing. It's not… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
In all of my books, I really want to work with working-class people. My goal is to show the moments of grace… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
I only know what it's like to be an author with social media. I can't compare. I do think we lose the… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
When I'm there, it's pure silence. There are other writers there, too, and I get super competitive. I have this weird fear… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
As an author, you go into the school, it gets written about in the paper. It sucks that your book was banned, but you… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
Whenever I teach writing I tell them to never revise as you go. Finish the first draft. This is my writing advice. I can't… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
When you first quit your regular job and you become a full-time writer, you are paralyzed with free time. You have so much free… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
I think the world sort of looks to the kids who have potential. These are the kids who are going to do something with… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
I think we all try to figure out ways to ignore the fact that life is about suffering. In the modern world, that's what… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
Growing up as a mixed-race kid myself, when you are in the middle of it and you're young...you don't think about it consciously. It's… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
A lot of people think that they are really cool because they don't outline. In my writing group, they would say, "I will never… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
The second book, which was probably more from a professional standpoint - when I read Junot Díaz's Drown, I was like, Oh my god,… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
When I was young, I grew up in a family of working-class people. Not just my parents, but my extended family, as well. — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
Once I got into college, I discovered literature - in particular, multicultural literature. I just started to understand the power of story and narrative,… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
The feeling it gave me was an odd combination of weightless self-pity and excitement. I understood my life was meaningless, and this knowledge freed… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
When I finish a book, I'll go to that file and look through them. And I'll say, these are three that really excite me… — Matt de la Pena Copy Share Image
